PREPARING FUTURE GENERATIONS FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING GLOBALIZED WORLD: What does it mean for Information Literacy?

Abstract

The panel will explore and discuss issues that we need to consider in order to prepare future generations to cope with complexities of rapidly changing environments in the globalized world. The panel will first outline some of the trends as represented in the literature and witnessed in our own interactions with learners, the media, in citizen/government relationships, and everyday life.

The panelists will discuss information literacy in the context of the 21st-century IL Standards, the web 2.0 technologies, information seeking behavior of various populations as well as innovations in learning and teaching across the board.

We will explore the vocabulary that has evolved around such terms as “uncertainty,” “green economy,” “distribution of players,” “climate change,” “vulnerable economy,” “interconnectedness,” “access to information,” “ubiquitous technologies,” “collaboration,” “crowd sourcing,” and “creativity.” The panel will attempt to translate some of the 21st century trends into IL practices. We need to look at possible intersections between the trends and best practices for synergies in our work as information professionals. Finally, we will discuss factors affecting teaching and learning from the perspectives of physical classroom settings such as flexible furniture configurations, learning spaces, and cutting edge educational technologies.